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| OUR SOUTHERN HERITAGE
The Confederate Battle Flag THE DESIGN OF THE CONFEDERAT BATTLE FLAG HAS GLORIOUS HISTORY OF BOTH CELTIC & CHRISTIAN HERITAGE . Among all the flags that were a part of the Confederate States of America and its military forces, the Confederate Battle Flag is the most well-known and beloved of all. Though it was never officially adopted by the Confederate government in Richmond, Virginia. It became the most prominent symbol of the Confederacy’s struggle for independence, and remains so to this day. The magnificent beauty of this flag can only be excelled by the glorious history of its unique design. The origin of the design of this flag has its roots in both Celtic and Christian history. This flag represents the lofty principles of personal freedom, states’ rights and constitutional government. It has become the symbol of each true southerner’s expression of all the ideals for which their noble ancestors fought and died. It is with affection, reverence and undying devotion to the noble cause which it represent, that we honor our Confederate Battle Flag. It doesn’t seem much to stir a man’s soul just a moth eaten rag on a worm eaten pole But ‘tis the deeds that were done ‘neath this moth eaten rag when the pole was a staff and the rag … was a flag. THE CROSS OF ST. ANDREW The letter “X” when positioned on its side (X) is commonly known as the Cross of St. Andrew and dates back to early Christian history. As recorded in the Holy Scriptures, Andrew was born in the city of Bethsaida on the north shore of Galilee (John 1:44), but lived in nearby Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 29). He worked with his brother Simon Peter as a fisherman. He first became a disciple of John the Baptist through whose preaching Andrew became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (John 1:35, 40). In turn, Andrew then brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. Later on, Jesus called both Andrew and his brother Simon Peter to leave their fishing business and become His disciples (Mark 1:16-18). Andrew became one of the twelve apostles of our Lord and was active in the establishment of the early Christian Church in Palestine (Act 1:13). Tradition says that Andrew was responsible for spreading the Christian Faith throughout Asia Minor and Greece. For this fervent preaching and testimony of Jesus Christ, he was put to death by the Romans when he was around 85 years old in AD 69 in the city of Patras, Greece by being pinned to a cross. At his request, the cross was turned on its side because he felt he was not worthy to be crucified like his Lord. His body was then entombed, but was moved by Emperor Constantine the Great to his new capital city of Constantinople, about 300 years later. Legend says that either a Greek monk or an Irish assistant of St. Columba called St. Rule was warned in a dream to remove the remains of St. Andrew to the “end of the earth” for safekeeping. This he did and was shipwrecked on the east coast of Scotland at the location which is now known as St. Andrews. Another legend says that Acca, the Bishop of Hexham, a collector of relics brought the bones of St. Andrew to an existing religious center at St. Andrews, Scotland in AD 733. This became Scotland’s first association with St. Andrew. After the battle with the Northumbrains of England in AD 832, the Scots adopted him as this patron Saint and the saltire as the symbol for their national flag. For hundreds of years, brave Scottish warriors have fought under this noble banner. This same symbol is also known as Jacob’s Cross. It represent the blessing of the patriarch Jacob/Israel when he crossed his arms and blessed the two sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:8-22). Around 600 BC, the Greeks designated “X” as the letter “chi” in their alphabet which in New Testament times came to represent Christ. Therefore, the letter X, when used alone or in combination with other letter, other stands for the word Christ, as is “Xmas”. THE CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG The first official flag adopted by the Confederate Congress was known as the Stars and Bars. It consisted of two broad strips (or bars) with a broad white stripe between them, with a blue canton in the upper left corner having seven white stars in a circle. Even though it was proudly accepted by all the people of the southern nation, it soon proved to be fatally faulty on the field of battle. At the first Battle of Manassas in July 1861, it was mistaken for the U.S. flag by Confederate forces because of the smoke and haze in the confusion of battle. It was then decided by General Pierre G. T. Beauregard that a flag of different design would have to be made. A square flag consisting of a blue St. Andrew’s Cross emblazoned with thirteen stars on a field of red and bordered by a narrow band of white was proposed and adopted as the unofficial battle flag of the Confederate forces. This magnificent flag was formally accepted with military ceremonies by Generals Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston and others at Centreville, Virginia in October 1861. THE FLAG AND ITS MEANING At Appomattox, Virginia on Sunday April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. This was the beginning of many subsequent surrenders which brought an end to the War for Southern Independence. Tens of thousands of brave southern soldiers had spilled their blood and given their lives on the field of battle in defense of their beloved country. This band of noble dead along with their brave surviving fellow soldiers fought valiantly in battle for the defense of their homes and firesides under this glorious banner. This brave army of war-weary, under-fed and grief-stricken men was forced to furl their beloved banner that became the symbol of their struggle against northern tyranny. The Confederate Battle Flag now waves as a testimonial to southern heroes who yearned and fought for limited constitutional government and individual freedom. Its stands as a symbol of patriotism, dedication to family and a willingness to suffer and even die in defense of the South and its Christian culture. |
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